Forté Forums: Launching Women into Successful Leadership Careers

On July 28, 2016, Hillary Clinton made history when she became the first woman to accept a major party nomination for president of the United States. Clinton’s run as the first female presidential candidate has sparked conversations nationwide about the impact of women in leadership roles.

Throughout history, women have taken a back seat to men in leadership roles, yet statistics show that women can be just as effective, if not more effective, than their male counterparts when given the opportunity to lead. According to data from the leadership consultancy Zenger Folkman, women in leadership positions rank 54.5 percent for overall effectiveness, whereas men in leadership roles rank 51.8 percent.

In more than a decade of study, Zenger Folkman also found that women tend to become more effective with age compared to men. Perhaps not surprisingly, when women were asked to explain why they were perceived as more effective, the frequent answer was that “we must perform twice as well to be thought half as good.”

Even though women are proven leaders, they are underrepresented in positions of power. Only 14 percent of Fortune 500 senior executives are women according to the Forté Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women in business. Even more striking, only 4 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.

By partnering with leading companies and top business schools, the Forté Foundation works to launch women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, professional opportunities and a community of successful women. Forté Forums cater to standout women considering an MBA, whether they’re high achievers looking to change careers, college students planning for the future or professionals ready to take their careers to the next level.

“You have to be vocal about what you can offer and where you would like to see your career go,” says Lorna Donatone, TCU MBA ’82 alum and Sodexo’s North American region chair. “Be bold and show up in a big way within your organization.”

Forté Forums are held in 12 cities and empower women with information about the value of an MBA. Women attending the free forums will make critical connections with representatives, alumnae and students from top business schools in North America and Europe, forming an unmatched peer support network. Successful businesswomen representing diverse industries and career stages will share how their MBAs help them make a mark in the world.

Are you a woman looking to advance your career? Join Peggy Conway, director of TCU’s MBA admissions, at the Forté Forum on August 16 in Washington, D.C., or on August 25 in Houston to learn more about how an MBA from TCU can help you achieve your career goals.

When asked about her career transition, TCU MBA ’14 Kiki Dallao, senior associate in the advisory business of KPMG, said, “Thankfully, through TCU, I was able to participate in Neeley & Associates Consulting, where I gained consulting experience on projects with actual clients and met people in the consulting industry who shared their wisdom, experience and networks. All of that led me to my job at KPMG!”